Grain-meter



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H. GERRED.

GRAIN METER.

10.249.609.- y Patented Nov.15,1881.

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`(Model.) y 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

- H'- GERRED- GRAIN Mmm; No. 249,609. Patented Nov. 15,188.1.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

GRAIN METER.

Patented Nov. 15,1881.

. (Modell) UNITED STATES PATENT EEioEo HUGH GEREED, F CHESTER, ILLINOIS.

GRAIN-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 249,609, dated November 15, 1881.

Application filed May 12, 1881. (Model.)

To all whomA it may concern Be it known that I, HUGH GEREED, of Chester, in the county ot' Randolph and State of Illinois, have inven-ted certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Weighing Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ot' the same.

My invention relates to automatic grainweighers, the object of the invention being to provide a simple self-acting device adapted to permit the continuous flow of grain and to weigh and register the amount of grain passing through it.

The whole construction shown in the accompanying drawings is fully described hereinafter, and the particular devices and combinations which constitute my invention are specincally claimed. v

In these drawings, Figure l shows a perspective view ofthe apparatus; Fig. 2, a plan view; Fig. 3, a side elevation in part, Fig. 4, an end view, partly in section.

In these drawings, A represents the chute, which receives the grain in a constant stream and delivers it to the weighing-buckets. Itis supported upon front and rear standards, a b, being txed thereto at their upper ends. Itis provided with a false side, c, as shown clearly in Fig. 4, which extends down into the mouth of the chute, and is adjustable in or out by means of a set-screw, l, the adjustability serving to vary the area of the mouth of the chute. The chute A discharges into a movable chute, B, which is pivoted upon bearings 2 2 in the standards a b, and is capable of limited oscillation from side to side within the mouth of the divided liked chute C, said chute being also supported upon the. brackets 3 3 on the standards. l

The two branches of the divided chute have their open ends over the grain-buckets, as shown in Figs. l and 4. A dividing-wall, 4, separates the two parts centrally, with space enough on each side for the movable chute B to deliver into either branch.

The grain-buckets are shown at D I). They are hung upon the forked ends ot' scale-beams E E, pivoted near the edge of a suitable platform, the forked ends extending beyond the platform and supporting the buckets by the sides thereof.

Although I have shown the upper chute pivoted and the lower rigid, it is manifest that 'the conditions may be reversed, and the lower chute, instead ofthe upper, may be made movable and be connected to the operating mechanisin.

The scalebeams are composed of frames consisting of side pieces, 5 5, and cross-bars 6 7.

The cross-bars 6 are bolted rigidly to the side bars; but the cross-bars 7 are connected to the side bars by a transverse bolt, 8, which passes through slots, as shown at 9, Fig. l, in the inwardly-turned ends of' said cross-bars. A central rod,10,is hooked over the barG and passes `through a stop-plate, 11,' riveted to' the crossbar 7, being held t-o said plate by a nut, by means of which and the slotted connections heretofore described the cross-bar 7, with the stop-plate secured thereto, may be adjusted in orout, for the purpose hereinafterexplained. Two curved standards, d, are set in the platform by the side bars of the scale-beams, and just in rear of the pivots on which the levers turn. Upon these scale-beams, between the stopplate 1l and the curved standards d, are arranged rollerweights F. These weights have central peripheral grooves, which lit upon the central rod, l0, and guide the rollers in theirbackwardandforward movement. When the buckets are raised to their full height the rear ends of the scale-beams are slightlylower than the front-ends, so that the weights remain in position against the stop-plates 1l.

The rollers may be of variousforms, and may obviously' be varied in position without mate rial change in result. They may have two grooves fitted to roll on sharp edges ofthe side bars or frame of the scale-beam. An equivalent arrangement would also be to suspend a stationary weight fromthe ends of the scalebeams and provide a counterpoise-weight to rest at the fulcrurn and roll toward the bucket when the designated amount of grain was received.

The buckets are arranged to work alternately, one llin g while the other is discharging. One of the buckets is shown in Fig. 3 in side elevation and in Fig. 4 inend elevation as elevated to its full height. The position of the weight is then shown iii-Fig. 3, and the position-of the movable chute B is also shown in Fig. 4, when the righthand bucket is elevated, as therein represented. The bottom of each bucket is a double incline, one side being pivoted at its upper edge, adapted to open by gravity to a position shown in Fig. il., the hinged bottom being marked c.

Fixed upon the outer surface of the bucket. is a triangular-shaped bar, 12, which, when the bucket is lowered, swings under a cross-bar, 13, on the standard a; but when the bucket is raised this cross-bar, acting upon the angle-iron 12, forces the hinged bottom to close upon its scat. Itis therecaughtandheldbyacatch-bail, 14, the bail having catches at both ends working over the projecting' ends of the rod 15 on the hinged bottom. 'Ihe weight of the rear end of the bail causes it to retain the bottom in place; but when the bucketis lowered this bail strikes against apin, 16, unhooking the hinged bottom and permitting it to drop. The bail is held in proper position by means of a loop, 17, on the back of the bucket.

For the automatic workin g of the whole device it is necessary that the movable chute B should be swung pver the rising bucketin each movement of the apparatus. This is accomplished by means ofarms 18 1S fixed to one end of said movable chute at the upper side and connected by rods 19 to the front side of -the buckets. 'It will be obvious from an inspection of Fig. 4 that the alternate rise and fall ot'the buckets will throw the chute alternately from side to side, so that its lower end will always be over the elevated bucket. This chute is held more securely in place by catches 20, which hook over bails 21 on the top ot' the buckets. These hooks arepivotedto one end of themovable chute at the lower part, and rest in guidenotches in anges 22 on the divided tixed chtite.. As the bucket falls it draws the bail out of connection with the hook by the first part ot' its movement and leaves the rod 19 free to act to A deflect the chute from theone side tothe other.

It will be understood that the stop-plates 11 are accurately set for a given weight of grain. They may be so set by means ot' a gage on the frame of the lever, as shown at 23, Fig. 2.

It will also be understood that the curved standards d are set at such a point that the weight ofthe rollers, when arrested by them, will overbalance the weight of the empty buckets, whereby the rollers are caused to return through their own gravity, when the bucket is empty, to their position at the ends ot' the scale-beams, thereby raising the bucket and shutting the bottom. These parts being thus adjusted, and the apparatus being, for illustration, in the position shown in Fig. 4, the grain is admitted to the chute A and `passes down into the right-hand bucket D, the bottom of which has been closed by the bar 13, and the weight rolled back against the rear stop, l1. As soon as a designated weight of grain has been received by the bucket it at once overcomes the wei gilt of the roller, throws up the rear end of the scale-beams on which the roller rests, causing the roller to start forward toward the standards, on which it ultimately rests, and the bucket to instantly fall. Asit falls it at once throws the chute B to the other side. It`, instead ot' a roller, a weight were hung at the end of the scale-beam, it would shut in and retain about one-third of the grain, and it is the movement of the rollers on the beam which gives the grain time to be discharged. Further, it is the actionof the rollers moving' to the curved standards which causes the accurately-weighed grain to change the flow into the empty bucket and to open the bottom of the full bucket.

In connection with this apparatus I have also provided an automatic register, G,.tixed to the rear standard, b, and operated by a lever, fi, and connectingrod 7c. Thelever is pivoted at 25, and passes through an arm, 26, ot' the side' bar, 5. Reciprocating motion of the rod k is adapted to operate any of the wellknown kinds ot registers, the details ot' which are well known and need not here be described.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what- 1 claim is- 1. An automatic grain-weighing machine consisting of the buckets D D, suspended upon scale-beam E, injcombina-tion with the movable weights, and with a movable chute, the said buckets being connected by mechanism, substantially as described, whereby a determined weight of grain in one bucket causes the bucket to sink, shifts the chute, lowers the other bucket, adjusts the hinged bottoms, and moves the weights, substantially as set forth.

2. AThe combination of the alternately-moving buckets, the rods 19, the arms 1S, and the movable chute B, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the movable chute, arms 1S, rods 1.9, buckets D, the latches 20, and the bails 21, substantially as described.

-L The combination o t' the pair of buckets, the pivoted scale-beams E E, tixed stops d, and the adjustable stop-plate 11, as set forth.

5. In combination with the pivotcd buckets, the scale-beams composed of side bars, crossbars, and central rod, 10, adapted to operate in connection with the rollers and the tixed posts or stops d d, substantially as described.

6. In combination with the buckets, the pivoted bottom, the catch-bail 1li, and the stoppin 16, as set forth.

7. The combination, with the side bars, 55, in the scale-beam E, the adjustable cross-bar 7, said bars being provided with gage-marks as set forth.

S. In combination with the scale-beam E,pro vided with oscillating bucket and movable weight, the lever t", rod 7.', and register, sub' stantially as described.

' HUGH GERREI).

Witnesses:

ROBERT H. MANN, HENRY SrncKMAN.

IOO 

